Cylinder block



Jan. 6, 1959 J. DOLZA ETAL 2,367,201

CYLINDER BLOCK Filed Oct. 28, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS ATTORNEY Jan. 6, 1959 J. DOLZA ET AL 2,867,201

CYLINDER BLOCK Filed Oct. 28, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 AT TORNEY Jan. 6, 1959 J. DOLZA ETAL 2,867,201

CYLINDER BLOCK Filed Oct. 28, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS c552? Dafza z? ave/3 @5 warez? ATTORNEY Jan. 6, 1959 J. DOLZA ET AL CYLINDER BLOCK 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed 001;. 28, 1954 BY 0 I? 129?! Q'TW United States Patent f CYLINDER BLOCK John Dolza, Davishurg, and John B. Burnell, Birmingham, Mich, assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application October 28, 1954, Serial No. 465,296 Claims. 01. 123-195 This invention relates to bodies or blocks in which the cylinders of internal combustion engines and other devices are formed and relates particularly to cylinder blocks for internal combustion engines and other devices in which cylinders areformed in rows in which the axes of the cylinders lie in intersecting planes. The improved cylinder block embracing the invention is especially applicable for use in the manufacture of lightweight, high speed, high compression ratio internal combustion engines for automotive and other uses.

Application for patent S. N. 339,098 filed in the United States Patent Office February 26, 1953 now Patent No. 2,783,510 discloses a method by which the block may be cast of molten metal although the manufacture of the block is not limited to this method or to casting. The block may be constructed by any method that may be considered desirable.

In cylinder blocks as heretofore constructed it has been the practice to provide numerous projections and depressions on the interior and exterior surfaces thereof. From examining these blocks, it would appear that these projections and depressions have been located wherever desirable and to extend somewhat at random in different directions and that the internal and external surfaces have been formed principally with the idea of reducing to a minimum the metal required to provide a block with the desired functional characteristics and structural strength. Such formation of the interior and exterior surfaces has resulted in dividing the block into numerous areas which may have differently sloping projections and depressions. The number of these areas has greatly complicated the construction of the block without resulting in any substantial advantage that may not otherwise be obtained.

It is now proposed to so design an engine or other similar block or body that the number of interior and exterior areas having differently sloping projections and depressions will be greatly reduced. This simplifies the configuration of the structure and results in making the structure more economical to construct.

To reduce the number of such interior and exterior areas and to simplify the configuration of the structure, it is proposed to establish planes of reference both internally and externally of the structure, thereby dividing the structure into different areas in which projections and depressions having similarly sloping surfaces may be formed. Across the exterior surface it is proposed to establish a plane of reference which will be intersected by the cylinder or cylinders of the structure and which may extend longitudinally of the structure to divide the exterior surface into different areas. Across the interior surface it is proposed to establish planes of reference that will extend transversely of the structure and divide the interior surface of each crank throw compartment and cylinder of the structure into different areas.

I The exterior surfaces embracing the areas on opposite sides of the exterior reference plane are formed in such manner that parallel planesintersecting each exterior sur- 7, 2,867,201 Patented Jan. 6, 1 959 ice face will form sections whichwhen projected on the reference plane will appear as nonintersecting contour lines and will enclose intersected areas on the reference plane which are constant or which decrease in size as the exterior surfaces extend from the reference plane.

The interior surfaces embracing the areas in each crank throw compartment and cylinder on opposite sides of each interior reference plane are formed in such manner that parallel planes intersecting each interior surface will form sections which when projected on the reference planes will appear as nonintersecting contour lines and will enclose intersected areas on the reference planes which are constant or which decrease in size as the surfaces extend from the reference planes.

For example, in constructing an engine block wherein rows of cylinders are arranged in oblique or other relation to the central vertical plane of the engine, it is proposed to divide the exterior surface into an upper area and a lower area on opposite sides of a reference plane extending through the widest part of the block and through other parts of the block which it may be desirable to include within one or the other of the two exterior areas. It is then proposed to form all of the block surface included within each upper and lower area in such a way that all projections and depressions in each area will extend in generally parallel relation and so that all projections extending away from the exterior reference plane will remain constant in surface or will decrease in surface. When so constructed, it will be apparent that all parts of the exterior surface of the block in either area may be cast, machined or otherwise formed by simplified operations of manufacture. For example, the entire upper and lower areas may be made entirely by separate molds of green sand and, if such is desired,

without the use of baked sand cores.

It is also proposed to divide the interior surface into front and rear areas on opposite sides of reference planes extending transversely of the block and substantially through the middle of each crank throw compartment and each cylinder extending from each crank throw compartment. It is then proposed to form all of the block surface in the front and rear areas in each crank throw compartment in such a way that all projections and depressions in each area will extend in generally parallel relation and so that the surfaces forming all depressions extending away from the interior reference planes will remain constant or will decrease in surface. When so constructed, it will be apparent that all parts of the interior surface of the block in any area may be cast,

machined or otherwise formed by simplified operations of manufacture. For example, the front and rear areas in each crank throw compartment and the cylinders extending therefrom may be 'made entirely by a single core extending transversely of the block.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a cylinder block embodyingthe invention. In Figure 1, as well as in the succeeding figures, the cast surfaces of the block are shown by solid lines while surfaces to be machined are shown by broken lines.

' Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken in the plane of line 22 of Figure 1 and looking in the direcof line 55 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is an end elevational view taken in the plane of line 66 of Figure l and looking in the direction of the arrows.

The engine block 10 employedfor the purpose of illuslongitudinally and transversely thereof.

.In the present instance the exterior surface has a definite relation to a plane of reference ABC extending through the widest part of the block 10 and through the dot and dash lines indicated at AA in Figure 3 at A -BCCBA in Figure and at AA in Figure 6. r

The interior surface of the block also is formed to have a definite relation to transverse planes of reference EE indicated on Figures 2 and 4 by the broken lines E E, E-E and E--E.

The block is formed to provide two rows of cylinders 38 which are arranged in substantially oppositely disposed pairs of cylinders which intersect the exterior reference plane indicated at ABC or which may be geometrically extended to intersect the reference plane ABC.

a 4 32 and 34 may be extended upwardly at 70 beyond the inner side walls 40 to meet the parts of the heads which extend inwardly of the inner side walls 40, thereby providing supports for the overhanging parts of the heads. The upwardly extending parts 78 of the end walls of the block may be reinforced by laterally extending supports indicated at 66 which extenddownwardly of the block to more rigid parts of the cylinder banks 14. The edges of the upwardly extending parts 7% of the end walls 32 and 34 also may extend obliquely inwardly to provide means for supporting the opposite ends of covers for closing the galleries 86. The galleries 86 may terminate at partition walls 54 extending between the end walls 32 The number of cylinders in each row of cylinders is not important nor is the number of rows of cylinders so long as the cylinders intersect the exterior reference plane that may be employed.

;In order that the block 10 may serve as a part of the frame for an internal combustion engine, it is proposed to provide the block with end walls 32 and 34 and with intermediate walls 16 and between which the crank throw compartments 18 are formed. The cylinders 38 communicate with approximately the middle of each crank throw compartment 18. The end walls 32 and 34 are formed to provide bearing supports 24 and 26 for the opposite ends of the crankshaft of the engine and hearing supports 23 and 30 for the opposite ends of the camshaft of the engine. Bearing supports 20 and 22 also are formed in the intermediate walls 16 for supporting the middle of the crankshaft and camshaft respectively. The cylinders 38 are formed between inner end walls 80 and outer end walls 81 which extend between the end walls 32 and 34 and merge with the transverse walls 16. Cooling liquid jackets 82 may be formed around the cylinders 38 between the inner and outer end walls 84) and 81 and inner and outer side walls 40 and 83 respectivjely. The walls 40 and 83 extend between the end walls 32 and 34. The inner end walls 80 and the outer side walls 83 merge at the lower extremities thereof in side walls 84 which also extend between parts of the end walls 32 and 34 extending downwardly on opposite sides of the bearing supports 24 and 26. The lower edges ofltheside walls 84 and the adjacent parts of the end walls 32 .and 34 may terminate at the lower extremities thereof in flanges indicated at 36 to which the oil pan of the engine may be secured. The inner extremities of the inner side walls 40 and of the inner end walls 80 may merge with a bridging wall 42 extending throughout the length of the block between the end walls 32 and 34 and the cylinder banks 14. The bridging wall 42 also may merge with the upper extremities of the intermediate walls 16.

The heads of the engine are adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured to the outer end walls 81 over the ends of the cylinders 38. The heads may be constructed togextend inwardly of the inner side walls 40 for the purpose of covering galleriesi86 through which the push rods of the engine are adapted to extend. The-end walls and 34 and merging with the inner side walls 40. The edges of the walls 54 may support sides of the covers for closing the galleries 86. Between the walls 54 and the middle parts of the bridging wall 42 and the inner extremities of the inner side walls 40 are bosses which may be employed for supporting the valve lifters adapted to engage the inner extremities of the push rods for the engine. Openings S2 communicating at opposite ends with the crank throw compartments 18 and the galleries 86 may be formed in the bosses 50 for supporting ;the valve'liftersr Bosses 72 also may be formed on'the inner side walls 40 within the galleries 86 for receiving the ends of bolts employed in securing the covers on the push rod galleries 86. It is proposed to construct the block 10 so that a fuel pump may be located on the upper part of the block for pumping fuel to be employed in the induction system of the engine. For this purpose, it is proposed to provide an upwardly extending SUPP rt 68 at the end of the bridging wall 42 adjacent the front -wall 32. The support .68 may be provided with a passage 87 for supplying oil to the lubricating system of the.

engine through the hollow body of the pump mounting bracket and a passage '88 for the pump actuating push rod adapted to ,be driven by the camshaft of the engine. The distributor'of the engine may be supported in a boss 90 formed at one side of the bridging wall 42 andadjacent the rear wall34.

In the event the block 10 is constructed as a casting it may be desirable to provide openings 89 in the walls 32 and 34 and through which core supports for the cores to be employed in formingthe cooling liquid cavities 82 may project outwardly. Also, openings 91 may be formed in the inner and outer side walls 40 and 83 respectively and through which other cooling liquidjacket core supports may extend into engagement with the green sand in the adjacent parts of the mold. Additional openings 44 may be provided in the bridging wall 42 to permit the green sand in the' upper part of the .mold to engage the cores employed in forming the crank throw compartments 18.

In order to facilitate the formation of the surfaces of the block above and below the reference plane ABC, it is proposed to form .thesurface in each area so that the surfaces will decrease as any part of the block extends from the reference plane ABC and so that all parts of each surfacemay be engaged by surface forming means moving toward and away from the surface along parallel lines. For example, it will be apparent that all parts of the exterior surface above and below the reference plane ABC either remain constant in area or decrease in area as the part ofthe block on which the surface is formed extends away from the reference plane. No part of the surface in either area is rendered inaccessible to'the movement of such surface forming means byany overhanging part more remote from the reference plane ABC. Hence it is possible to form all the exterior surfaces on either side of the reference plane ABC by unitary surface forming means such as a single mold or die.

For example, the entire upper surface of the block may be considered as a single projection extending from the plane ABC and it will be noted that -no part of the surface overhangs any other part so that a single -externally disposed surface forming means may not engage all parts of the surface when moved by rectilinear motion toward and away from the reference plane ABC. The exterior surfaces of the outer end walls 81 and the inner side walls 40 of each bank of cylinders 14 converge toward the parts thereof which are farthest removed from the reference plane ABC. The bridging wall 42 which has flanges 46 thereon extending around the openings 44 likewise has sides that are either parallel or that converge toward the parts of the bridging wall that are farthest removed from the reference plane ABC. The bosses 76, the upwardly extending parts 70 of the end walls 32 and 34 and the partition walls 54 likewise have surfaces which are either parallel or converge toward the parts thereof that are farthest removed from the reference plane ABC. The support 68 for the engine pump and the distributor support 90 which project from the bridging wall 42 adjacent the opposite ends thereof likewise have surfaces which are either parallel or converge towardthe parts thereof which are farthest removed from the reference plane ABC. The end walls 32 and 34 and the end wall supports 66 also have exterior surfaces above the reference plane ABC which are either parallel or converge toward the parts thereof which are farthest removed from vthe reference plane ABC. The end wall 34 also may have an outwardly projecting flange 76 forming the outer end of the rear main bearing support 26 and which extends downwardly to the part of the reference plane indicated by the line C-C. The flange 76 also has surfaces which are either parallel or which converge toward the part of the flange farthest removed from the part of the reference plane indicated at CC. It will be noted that all'parts of the surface area above the reference plane ABC extend away from the reference surface in the same general direction and in such manner that when all parts of the surface are intersected by parallel planes the sections when projected normally to the intersecting planes will appear as nonintersecting contour lines.

It will be noted that all parts of the exterior surface area below the reference plane ABC are also formed in a similar manner. For example, the outer side walls 83 form surfaces which converge toward the part of the block farthest removed from the reference plane ABC and the side walls 84 and the parts of the end walls 32 and 34 below the reference plane ABC provide exterior surfaces which are either parallel or converge toward the parts of the block farthest removed from the reference plane ABC. Also, any part of the exterior surface below the reference plane ABC when intersected by parallel planes will form sections which when projected normally to the intersecting planes will appear as nonintersecting contour lines.

The interior surface of the block 10 is formed principally by the crank throw compartments 18 and the cylinders 38 which extend therefrom. The reference planes BE in each compartment 18 divide the cylinders 38 in such a way that the surfaces of the cylinders converge in opposite directions from the parts of the refference planes EE extending within the cylinders. The interior surfaces on each side of the parts of the refference planes EE within the crank throw compartments 18 are also formed in such a way that the side walls forming the compartments are either parallel or converge toward the parts of the block which are farthest removed from the adjacent parts of the reference planes EE. The inwardly disposed flanges 58 and 60 which form parts of the bearing supports 20 and 22 extend toward the reference planes BE in each crank throw compartment and have surfaces which are either parallel or which converge toward the reference planes EE in each compartment. Bosses 56 formed around the inner surfaces of the side walls 84 and the end walls 32 and 34 and which are adapted to receive bolts for securing the oil pan to the block also have exterior surfaces which are crankshaft of the engine and the openings 22 and 28 and 30 within the bearings supports 93 for the camshaft of the engine all have surfaces which are either parallel or which converge'as the openings extend away from the reference planes EE. The openings 44 which extend between the compartments 18 and the exterior surface of the blockabove the reference plane ABC may be of cylindrical formation and may be divided by the reference planes EE so that all parts of the surfaces forming the openings on opposite sides of the reference planes EE will converge as the openings extend away from the reference planes EE. The projections within the compartments 18 which are provided by the flanges 58 and 60 and the bosses 56 and any other outwardly projection parts of .the surfaces forming the different areas in the compartments 18 all extend in the same general direction. All of the surfaces included within the compartments 18 and the cylinders 38 are formed so that the surfaces either remain constant or decrease as the surfaces extend in opposite directions from the reference planes EE. When intersected by parallel planes the surfaces in each area. on opposite sides of the reference planes EE will form sections which when projected normally to the intersecting planes will appear as nonintersecting contour lines.

It will be apparent that the surfaces of the cylinders 38 and the crankcase compartments 18 on opposite sides of the reference planes EE may be formed by unitary surface forming means capable of rectilinear motion on lines intersecting the references planes EB and capable of engaging all parts of the surfaces Within the areas on opposite sides of the reference planes EE.

In the present instance the block 10 is so constructed that a large part of the exterior surface of the front and rear walls 32 and 34 is formed as generally plane end surfaces indicated at 48. These plane end surfaces make it possible to cast the block 10 without end cores if this is desired. If it is desired to use end or other cores to form various functionally desirable depressions in the end or other walls of the block it is possible to do this merely by extending the reference planes around the cores.

In the structure shown dot and dash lines have been employed to indicate machine work which maybe performed on a cast block to provide finished surfaces and passages that may be required in the construction of the engine and to receive closure members that may be employed for closing various openings. If methods of construction other than casting are employed, it may be possible to form many of these finished surfaces and passages without the machining operations so indicated.

The claims:

1. An engine block comprising a body having substantially oppositely disposed rows of cylinders formed therein on intersecting planes and having exterior surfaces formed thereon on opposite sides of a reference plane intersecting said body and the axes of said cylinders, each one of said exterior surfaces being formed to provide equal or decreasing increments of surface as that exterior surface extends from said reference plane so that no portion of that exterior surface overlies any other portion of said exterior surfaces in a direction perpendicular to said reference plane.

2. An engine block comprising a body having a cylinder and a crank throw compartment formed therein and having interior surfaces formed thereon on opposite sides of a reference plane intersecting said body and extending transversely of said crank throw compartment and longitudinally of said cylinder along the axis of said cylinder, each of said interior surfaces being formed to provide equal or decreasing increments of surface as the said interior surface extends from said reference plane so that no portion vof the said interior surface overlies any other portion of said interior surfaces'in aa'direction perpendicular to said reference plane.

3. An engine, block comprising a body having substant-ially oppositely disposed rows of cylinders formed therein on intersecting planes and having exterior surfaces formed thereon on opposite sides of an exterior reference plane intersecting said body and the axes of said cylinders and having crank throw compartments communicating with pairs of said cylinders in said rows and having interior surfaces formed on opposite sides of interior reference planes intersecting said body and extending transversely across said crank throw compartments and longitudinally of said cylinders and along the axes of said cylinders in said pairs, each of said surfaces being formed to provide equal or decreasing increments of surface as said each surface extends from one of said reference planes so that no portion of said each surface overlies any other portion of said surfaces in directions perpendicular to said one reference p a 7 4. An engine block comprising a body having substantially oppositely disposed rows of cylinders formed therein on intersecting planes and having exterior surfaces formed thereon on opposite sides of a reference plane intersecting said body and the axes of said cylinders, each of said exversely of said crank throw compartment and longitudinally of said cylinder along the axis of said cylinder, each of said interior surfaces being formed to provide equal or decreasing increments of surface as said each interior sur- 2 face extends from said reference plane so that no more than one portion of said each interior surfaceintersects any plane'perpendicular to said reference plane in a direction extending outwardly from said reference plane.

References Cited in the'file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,836,189 Salisbury Dec. 15,1931, 2,259,385 Lindenmuth Oct; 14, 1941; 2,669,227 Drinkard Feb. 16, 1954* 

